IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF IOWA CEDAR RAPIDS DIVISION

MIGUEL ROBERTO LOPEZ BERNAL,

Petitioner, No. C25-198-LTS-MAR vs. MEMORANDUM DONALD J. TRUMP, et al. OPINION AND ORDER

Respondents.

Petitioner Miguel Roberto Lopez Bernal is a Guatemalan national who entered the United States around 2013 without inspection. He is currently detained and facing removal proceedings. An Immigration Judge has determined that Lopez Bernal is ineligible for bond under the mandatory detention framework of

(b)(2). Lopez Bernal then petitioned (Doc. 1) for a writ of habeas corpus under

, contending that he falls within a class of aliens eligible for bond under

(a). Respondents have filed a response (Doc. 8) and Lopez Bernal has filed a reply (Doc. 14). I have already ruled that petitioners in similar situations do not fit the criteria of § 1225(b)(2). Giron Reyes v. Lyons, ___ F. Supp. 3d ___,

(N.D. Iowa Sept. 23, 2025); Chilel Chilel v. Sheehan, No. 25-cv-4053,

(N.D. Iowa Nov. 12, 2025). I adopt the same reasoning here to find that Lopez Bernal is not subject to mandatory detention under § 1225(b)(2), and that a new bond redetermination hearing is necessary.1

1 Lopez Bernal’s reply also noted that he falls within a newly-certified nationwide class that independently controls his eligibility for bond. Doc. 14 at 6 (citing Maldonado Bautista v. Santacruz, ___ F.R.D. ___,

(C.D. Cal. Nov. 25, 2025)). Respondents do not dispute that he fits within the class. Doc. 17 at 2. However, I conclude that I am able to Thus, Miguel Roberto Lopez Bernal’s habeas petition is granted and respondents are directed to provide Lopez Bernal with a bond redetermination hearing within 14 days of the date of this order in which he is not deemed ineligible for bond under

(b)(2).

IT IS SO ORDERED this 17th day of December, 2025. / Leonard T. Strand United States District Judge

rule on his individual claim without addressing the class-certification issue. See, e.g., Garcia Rodriguez v. Raycraft, No. 25-cv-13606,

, at *6 n.4 (E.D. Mich. Dec. 12, 2025); Montes Ramirez v. Lewis, No. 25-cv-143,

, at *4 n.6 (W.D. Ky. Dec. 11, 2025); Fuentes v. Olson, No. 25-cv-4456,

, at *4 n.5 (D. Minn. Dec. 9, 2025).